Nate Marquardt, the former UFC middleweight contender was set to make his welterweight debut on Sunday, June 26 against the up and coming Rick Story.
Hours prior to the weigh-in, news broke that the former middleweight title contender had been scratched from the card.
That news was quickly followed by a Twitter video post from UFC president Dana White. White said that not only had Marquardt been scratched from the card, but he had been released by the UFC.
Marquardt had been silent on the subject of why he was released from the UFC and what his plans are for the future.
That changed on Tuesday, June 28 when Marquardt spoke to Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour along with his manager Lex McMahon.
Marquardt and McMahon talked about Saturday, June 25. Marquardt said he was confident that he would pass the test that the results that came back on Saturday. He then said he still thought there was a chance had a he been able to take a test on fight night.
McMahon stressed that there was no deception in this process and that his team and his fighter were transparent during the process and that there were no excuses being made.
Marquardt then choked up when he said that UFC president Dana White pulled him aside and asked him, “How could you let this happen?”
Marquardt knew that White was unhappy but he was not told directly that he was released that news came from McMahon, but he also said that the news was not unexpected.
McMahon said that he found out about his fghter’s release the same way as everyone else did, via White’s twitter video.
McMahon then revealed that he has let the UFC know where Nate’s levels were after the fight and are currently at.
When asked if he was open to fighting outside the UFC, Nate said, “I don’t know.”
McMahon then said that one of the reasons they delayed talking about the subject was so that they could show that Nate’s levels were good and that they thought the suspension could end.
McMahon then conveyed that his phone was blowing with calls from many promoters looking to employ the services of Marquardt.
In closing a tearful Marquardt apologized to the fans, his family, the UFC and his sponsors and asked for everyone’s forgiveness.
McMahon stressed in closing, that Nate did not deceive anyone during this process, saying, “Now it’s time for the healing to begin.”